Withholding absolution

[bobolink]

Can a priest withhold absolution on condition that a penitent hand himself in to law enforcement?

Can a priest compel a penitent to go the the police as a pre-condition for absolution?

 

[Evan]

Can a priest withhold absolution on condition that a penitent hand himself in to law enforcement?

Can a priest compel a penitent to go the the police as a pre-condition for absolution?

No… a priest cannot require that a penitent break the seal of the confessional as a condition on his absolution.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Can a priest withhold absolution on condition that a penitent hand himself in to law enforcement?

Can a priest compel a penitent to go the the police as a pre-condition for absolution?

No
The only time absolution can be withheld is if the penitent shows that he is not actually sorry for his since, hence making a mockery of the Sacrament.

 

[Jesness]

No
The only time absolution can be withheld is if the penitent shows that he is not actually sorry for his since, hence making a mockery of the Sacrament.

But doesn’t being truly repentant include being willing to take responsibility for ones actions?

 

[ConstantineTG]

But doesn’t being truly repentant include being willing to take responsibility for ones actions?

God’s justice is different from man’s justice. Why do you still need to go to the police if God has already forgiven your sins? Isn’t God the higher authority? (Highest in fact)

EDIT:

To add, didn’t Jesus do the same? When he forgave the adultrous woman who was about to be stoned, did Jesus still subject her to earthly authority? Which means she is still to be stoned? So why do we need to go to prison after God has forgiven us?

 

[puzzleannie]

yes he can withhold absolution until the sinful condition is rectified. No he cannot make it conditional on revealing the substance of the confession to any third party, including law enforcement. to do so would be to break the seal which is absolute.

 

[Aramis]

Looking at Canon Law:

Can. 980 If the confessor has no doubt about the disposition of the penitent, and the penitent seeks absolution, absolution is to be neither refused nor deferred.

The corollary, therefore, is that if there is doubt, absolution may be deferred or refused.

Further, canon law reserves several excommunication offenses to the bishop or even Rome.

So yes, absolution can be withheld for cause.

 

[bobolink]

yes he can withhold absolution until the sinful condition is rectified. No he cannot make it conditional on revealing the substance of the confession to any third party, including law enforcement. to do so would be to break the seal which is absolute.

You seem to contradict yourself there?

 

[FrDavid96]

Can a priest withhold absolution on condition that a penitent hand himself in to law enforcement?

Can a priest compel a penitent to go the the police as a pre-condition for absolution?

No.

And No.

The priest can never require any penitent to do anything which would reveal the penitent’s guilt. No. Nay. Never. No never nomore. Nothing.

This comes up every few months, so just to anticipate the follow-up questions, and to anticipate the “but what if…” scenarios, the answer will still be the same: No.

Once again, whatever else gets posted here, because inevitably people will post again and ask “but what if…” The answer will still be the same: No.

One last time, folks, whatever you are thinking of posting, the answer will still be: No.

Unfortunately, I’m sure we’ll get the “but what if…” scenarios because someone out there will try to imagine a scenario where the answer will be yes. It won’t be. The answer will still be: No.

 

[FrDavid96]

Looking at Canon Law:

Can. 980 If the confessor has no doubt about the disposition of the penitent, and the penitent seeks absolution, absolution is to be neither refused nor deferred.

The corollary, therefore, is that if there is doubt, absolution may be deferred or refused.

Further, canon law reserves several excommunication offenses to the bishop or even Rome.

So yes, absolution can be withheld for cause.

While that’s true, it isn’t the question being asked. The questions have to do with the priest somehow requiring the penitent to turn himself in to law enforcement. Reserved sins are a different matter.

You might be getting at the idea that a priest can say “if you don’t turn yourself in, then you’re not repentant, and therefore I’ll withhold absolution” A priest cannot do that, because he’s forbidden to require the penitent to reveal the sin.

 

[jpjd]

No.

And No.

The priest can never require any penitent to do anything which would reveal the penitent’s guilt. No. Nay. Never. No never nomore. Nothing.

This comes up every few months, so just to anticipate the follow-up questions, and to anticipate the “but what if…” scenarios, the answer will still be the same: No.

Once again, whatever else gets posted here, because inevitably people will post again and ask “but what if…” The answer will still be the same: No.

One last time, folks, whatever you are thinking of posting, the answer will still be: No.

Unfortunately, I’m sure we’ll get the “but what if…” scenarios because someone out there will try to imagine a scenario where the answer will be yes. It won’t be. The answer will still be: No.

lol !

 

[Garyjohn2]

but…but…

but what if its part of the penance? I’ve heard of priests saying to return something that was stolen (or donate the equivalent amount in money to the poor) as part of the penance. Could a priest subscribe “turning oneself in” as penance?

 

[ConstantineTG]

but…but…

but what if its part of the penance? I’ve heard of priests saying to return something that was stolen (or donate the equivalent amount in money to the poor) as part of the penance. Could a priest subscribe “turning oneself in” as penance?

No



seriously

 

[revert_jen]

You seem to contradict yourself there?

I don’t see a contradiction. If you are, to take a horrible example, holding someone prisoner in your basement, the priest can require you to rectify the situation, that is, release the person. That is not the same as saying you have to turn yourself in.

–Jen

 

[Jesness]

God’s justice is different from man’s justice. Why do you still need to go to the police if God has already forgiven your sins? Isn’t God the higher authority? (Highest in fact)

EDIT:

To add, didn’t Jesus do the same? When he forgave the adultrous woman who was about to be stoned, did Jesus still subject her to earthly authority? Which means she is still to be stoned? So why do we need to go to prison after God has forgiven us?

She was breaking God’s law. As God Jesus can grant her mercy if he likes.

If you have committed a crime such as murder, you have broken not only God’s law but earthly laws as well. You are held accountable for that act even if God has forgiven you. As I said, true repentance tends to be willing to make restitutions for the wrongs its committed.

In terms of your eternal salvation, Jesus’ sacrifice gains us God’s mercy. Even so, Paul tells us that we should be subject to earthly authorities as it is God who put them over us. Since it is against earthly law, that same earthly law will demand restitution for the crime committed. Thankfully, even if the person does go to jail, a few years in prison beats an eternity in Hell. We won’t be destroyed for our sins, but neither will we get off Scott-free.
Jeremiah 30:11:

I am with you and will save you,’ declares the LORD. ‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

but…but…

but what if its part of the penance? I’ve heard of priests saying to return something that was stolen (or donate the equivalent amount in money to the poor) as part of the penance. Could a priest subscribe “turning oneself in” as penance?

No



seriously

Just to add to this, the penance that a priest gives out does not affect whether or not absoultion is given.

 

[bobolink]

Can a priest ‘lean’ on a penitent, say by withholding absolution until the person stops abusing children, or might he insist the person move away or something? There has to be firm purpose of amendment so surely there’d need to be a solid sign of this intention?

 

[ConstantineTG]

She was breaking God’s law. As God Jesus can grant her mercy if he likes.

Isn’t most crimes breaking God’s law? Is stoning God’s justice or man’s justice? If I forged a cheque, isn’t it against the Eighth Commandment?

If you have committed a crime such as murder, you have broken not only God’s law but earthly laws as well. You are held accountable for that act even if God has forgiven you. As I said, true repentance tends to be willing to make restitutions for the wrongs its committed.

Does earthly law hold God in any way? Once we’re forgiven by God, what good does earthly restitution do us?

In terms of your eternal salvation, Jesus’ sacrifice gains us God’s mercy. Even so, Paul tells us that we should be subject to earthly authorities as it is God who put them over us. Since it is against earthly law, that same earthly law will demand restitution for the crime committed. Thankfully, even if the person does go to jail, a few years in prison beats an eternity in Hell. We won’t be destroyed for our sins, but neither will we get off Scott-free.

Again, what interest in our salvation does going into an earthly prison serve us? If we have trully repented and have gained God’s mercy and forgiveness, what purpose does the prison serve us? Confession was established as a Sacrament by Christ for the salvation of our souls. What role does prison play in our salvation when we’ve already reformed?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Can a priest ‘lean’ on a penitent, say by withholding absolution until the person stops abusing children, or might he insist the person move away or something? There has to be firm purpose of amendment so surely there’d need to be a solid sign of this intention?

This is a “but what if…” scenario as described above.

If the person is confessing how does a priest know they are still abusing children?

I guess the priest could ask if they plan on doing it again and if the answer is yes then he can withhold absolution but I believe that is the only way it could happen.

 

[bobolink]

This is a “but what if…” scenario as described above.

If the person is confessing how does a priest know they are still abusing children?

I guess the priest could ask if they plan on doing it again and if the answer is yes then he can withhold absolution but I believe that is the only way it could happen.

Because of the chronic nature of that condition, surely the priest would assume that it was a grave risk? Might he compel the person to seek therapy or move away to a remote place?